How to Create a Portfolio for DASS Master's Program Admissions

On June 24, a webinar of the DASS Master's program was held, where the program's teacher and deputy head of the ANR-Lab, Irina Pavlova, spoke about how to create a portfolio for admission to the program.

The applicant's portfolio consists of two parts: mandatory and additional. Without the first part, the application will not be considered.

Mandatory part

• Previous education diploma (bachelor/specialist/master). The direction of previous education does not matter — the program is open to all applicants.

• Motivation letter — about 1000 words in English. In the letter, the applicant can explain: why our master's program is interesting, how it fits into his career path, how it will help develop analytical competencies.

• CV — in English, up to 2 pages. CV should reflect the educational and professional path. If you already have work experience, you can indicate key positions and projects. For graduates who do not have work experience, it is recommended to describe scientific and volunteer projects, participation in competitions and olympiads, as well as practices and internships.

• Confirmation of proficiency in English — this can be a certificate, a screenshot of an online test, participation in English-language conferences, the presence of publications in English. But confirmation is not required if the applicant's native language is English, as well as in the case of receiving an education in English. Recommended language level: B2 and above.

Additional part

• Letters of recommendation — you can attach up to 2 letters, which can be received from an employer or academic supervisor. Letters must be written no earlier than 3 months before submitting documents, contain a mention of the master's program and reflect the academic or professional potential of the applicant. In addition, recommendations should not be related to reviews of the final qualifying work or internship. The form of recommendations is free, the signature and contacts of the recommender are required.

• Additional documents — includes 4 areas: courses and advanced training; scientific publications and presentations; participation in research projects; international grants and scholarships. It is important that all achievements provided are directly related to the direction of the master's program.

• Interview — online and entirely in English (lasting about 25 minutes). This is not an exam, but a conversation: who you are, why you chose the program, what interests you, what are your professional or research plans. The commission wants to get to know you — and you are also given the opportunity to ask questions.

The deadline for submitting documents ends on September 15, 2025, so try to prepare all documents in advance!

The full recording of the webinar is available at the link.